Vitex negundo

Vitex negundo, commonly known as the Chinese chaste tree,[2] five-leaved chaste tree, or horseshoe vitex, or nisinda is a large aromatic shrub with quadrangular, densely whitish, tomentose branchlets. It is widely used in folk medicine, particularly in South and Southeast Asia.

Five-leaved chaste tree
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Vitex
Species:
V. negundo
Binomial name
Vitex negundo
Synonyms
  • Vitex cannabifolia Siebold & Zucc.
  • Vitex incisa Lam.
  • Vitex incisa var. heterophylla Franch.
  • Vitex negundo var. heterophylla (Franch.) Rehder
In vitro flowering in Vitex negundo
Inflorescence of Vitex negundo in Panchkhal valley in Nepal

Vitex negundo is an erect shrub or small tree growing from 2 to 8 m (6.6 to 26.2 ft) in height. The bark is reddish brown. Its leaves are digitate, with five lanceolate leaflets, sometimes three. Each leaflet is around 4 to 10 cm (1.6 to 3.9 in) in length, with the central leaflet being the largest and possessing a stalk. The leaf edges are toothed or serrated and the bottom surface is covered in hair.[3] The numerous flowers are borne in panicles 10 to 20 cm (3.9 to 7.9 in) in length. Each is around 6 to 7 cm (2.4 to 2.8 in) long and are white to blue in color. The petals are of different lengths, with the middle lower lobe being the longest. Both the corolla and calyx are covered in dense hairs.[3]

The fruit is a succulent drupe, 4 mm (0.16 in) in diameter, rounded to egg-shaped. It is black or purple when ripe.[3]

Distribution and habitat

Vitex negundo is native to tropical Eastern and Southern Africa and Asia. It is widely cultivated and naturalized elsewhere.[1]

Countries it is indigenous to include Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, and Vietnam.[1]

Vitex negundo are commonly found near bodies of water, recently disturbed land, grasslands, and mixed open forests.[4]

Nomenclature

Common names of Vitex negunda in different languages include:[5]

  • Assamese: Posotiya (পচতীয়া)
  • Bengali: Nirgundi; Nishinda; Samalu
  • Bontok: Liñgei
  • Chinese: Huáng jīng (黄荆)
  • English: Five-leaved chaste tree; Horseshoe vitex; Chinese chaste tree
  • Filipino: Lagundî[4]
  • Gujarati: Nagoda; Shamalic
  • Hindi: Mewri; Nirgundi; Nisinda; Sambhalu; Sawbhalu (निर्गुंडी)
  • Ifugao: Dabtan
  • Ilokano: Dangla[4]
  • Kannada: Biḷi nekki (ಬಿಳಿ ನೆಕ್ಕಿ)
  • Korean: jommokhyeong (좀목형)
  • Malayalam: Indrani
  • Marathi: Nirgudi (निरगुडी)
  • Nepali: 'सिमली' 'Simali' 'Nirgundi'
  • Punjabi: Banna; Marwan; Maura; Mawa; Swanjan Torbanna
  • Sanskrit: Nirgundi; Sephalika; Sindhuvara; Svetasurasa; Vrikshaha (सिन्धुवार)
  • Sinhala: Nika (නික)
  • Konkani: Lingad
  • Tamil: Chinduvaram; Nirnochchi; Nochchi; Notchi; Vellai-nochchi
  • Telugu: Sindhuvara; Vavili; Nalla-vavili; Tella-vavili (వావిలి / సింధువార) lekkali

Chemistry

The principal constituents of the leaf juice are casticin, isoorientin, chrysophenol D, luteolin, p–hydroxybenzoic acid and D-fructose. The main constituents of the oil are sabinene, linalool, terpinen-4-ol, β-caryophyllene, α-guaiene and globulol constituting 61.8% of the oil.

Uses

Vitex negundo is used for treating stored garlic against pests and as a cough remedy in the Philippines.[6] The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines has also approved clinical trials for vitex negundo, locally known as lagundi,[7] as a supplemental treatment for COVID-19 patients.[8][9]

In Malaysia, it is used in traditional herbal medicine for women's health, including treatments for regulating the menstrual cycle, fibrocystic breast disease and post-partum remedies.[10] It has antiseptic, astringent, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties.[11]

In the US, it grows in hardiness zones 6–9 and its purple flowers bloom most of the summer and it is a popular plant visited by bees and butterflies.

References
  1. "Vitex negundo L." Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN). Agricultural Research Service (ARS), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  2. "Vitex negundo". Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS Database. USDA. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  3. Vitex negundo Linn. Fact Sheet (PDF). Bureau of Plant Industry, Department of Agriculture, Republic of the Philippines.
  4. "Vitex negundo L. - Lagundi". Prosea Herbal Techno-Catalog. Archived from the original on December 21, 2012. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  5. Vitex negunda in Dr. K. M. Madkarni's Indian Materia Medica; Edited by A. K. Nadkarni, Popular Prakashan, Bombay, 1976, pp: 1278-80.
  6. "Lagundi leaves as effective control against storage pests of garlic". Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD), Department of Science and Technology, Republic of the Philippines. Archived from the original on July 15, 2007. Retrieved September 7, 2011.
  7. Ronda, Rainier Allan (18 July 2020). "Lagundi being tested vs COVID-19". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  8. Esguerra, Darryl John (21 July 2020). "PH to start clinical trial for 'lagundi' as COVID-19 supplemental treatment". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  9. CNN Philippines Staff (29 August 2020). "Lagundi trial gets green light, virgin coconut oil seen to reduce risk of coronavirus". CNN Philippines. Archived from the original on 14 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2020.
  10. Wan Hassan, W.E. (2010). Ulam: Salad Herbs of Malaysia. Masbe Sdn. Bhd. pp. 106–107. ISBN 9789834466404.
  11. Dharmendra Kumar, Rajesh Kumar and Kumari Sharda. "Medicinal property of Nirgundi" (PDF). Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry.
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